A History of Western Herbalism Part I: The Use of Herbs in Ancient Civilizations

Introduction

It
is easy to see how important herbs were in the daily lives of ancient peoples. When traders from these ancient cultures
traveled to distant lands, they took native herbs with them. The medicinal herbs of the traders’ native
lands were traded for herbs native to the lands they visited. It wasn’t long
before the exotic herbs of Asia found their way to civilizations to the west
while herbs native to the Mediterranean made their way east.

Prehistoric man and the use of Herbs

The use of medicinal herbs can be traced to before written
history began.

The use of herbs by prehistoric man developed through trial and error. As prehistoric man explored the world around
him, he found out which herbs were nourishing, which could heal and which ones
were dangerous to eat. Slowly an oral
tradition of herbs and their uses developed.
Shamans to shaman, herbal knowledge was passed down through the
centuries. Evidence of herbs as medicine
was found in the excavation of ancient burial sites. When archaeologist excavated a 60,000 year old
burial site they discovered 8 different medicinal herbs of interred with the
bodies.

As early people moved and ancient civilizations rose and
fell, the use of herbs expanded with these ancient peoples.

Clay Tablets from Mesapotamia

When Written History Began

As writing emerged in the ancient world, prehistory turned
into history. In societies as separated
as China and Egypt, scribes began to record the medicinal use of herbs. Herbs and the practice of medicine were one
and the same. There was no separation.
Medicine was herbalism and vice-verse.
As Hippocrates said, “Let food be your medicine and medicine be your
food.”

Each ancient culture
developed Materia Medicas. Materia Medica is a Latin term that means “materials
of medicine" It is the name used for a body of work that encompasses all
the collected knowledge about the therapeutic properties of any substance. In ancient civilizations most of these works
of science contained large sections on herbal medicine.

Assyria

Assyria, the Sumerians and Ancient Babylon 5300BC-539BC

The land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers was the
cradle of western civilization.

This is where agriculture arose and writing was first developed. Clay tablets found in southern Iraq recorded
the accounts of the kings. These tablets included records the medicinal herbs used in treating a variety of illnesses. These tablets even recorded the prescriptions
the Sumerian physicians used.

Ancient Eygypt

The Ancient Egyptians 3500BC to 30BC

The ancient Egyptian
empire was an amazingly sophisticated civilization. The scribes of Egypt kept meticulous records of all
that this great civilization accomplished. By 3500BC the ancient Egyptians were
organizing and recording an amazing array of medical practices. These included linking illnesses to effective
treatments, complicated surgeries, including that of the eye and prescriptions
for herbal preparations.

Herbs and their uses were intimately involved in all aspect
of Egyptian life. They were used in
cosmetics, medicine and the complicated funeral rites of this ancient
civilization. In fact, the Ebers Papyrus
written in 1500BC recorded over 700 herbal combinations used in the
prescription by the

Ancient China

Detour to China-2700BC, and Ancient India-1500

The use of herbal medicine has been recorded as far back as
2700BC. The Cannon ofHerbs has
been credited to the Emperor Shen Nung.
In it were recorded 252 herbs.
This book included where the plants grew, what plants looked like and
how they could be used to treat illnesses.

In India herbs and their uses were recorded at early as 1500
BC. The sacred books, The Vedas, record
the religious and medicinal uses for herbs.

Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece 1000BC-146BC

Ancient Greece, as did most ancient civilizations connected illness and
disease with magic and the wrath of the gods.

Hippocrates

Hippocrates

Hippocrates (460BC-377BC) was the
first person to propose that illness was physical manifestation, a lack of
balance with within the body itself. Hippocrates also felt that a healthy diet,
plenty of exercise and sufficient rest were essential to returning balance to
the body.

He wrote volumes of work on all aspects of medicine. In his, Hippocratic
Canon a collection of close
to 70 volumes, he described in great detail over 400 different herbs and how they
were used to treat illness.

Theophrastus and Aristotle

Inquiry into Plants

Theophrastus

Theophrastus (371BC-287BC) was
another Greek scholar who contributed to the advancement of not only botany but
herbal medicine in ancient Greece. His
treatises, Enquiry into Plants and On
the Cause of Plants were works that delved in great detail
into the lives of plant.

The Enquiry into Plants describe where
plants grew, what plants looked like, and their uses as both food and medicine. On the
Cause of Plants was a discussion of
things each plant needed in order to be grown successfully. Because of these two works, Theophrastus is
considered the father of botany.

Herbs in Ancient Rome (331 BC to 641)

Ancient Romans took the
writings of the ancient Egyptian and Greeks and built on their knowledge. Because Greek scholars were held in high regard in
ancient Rome, many of the most renowned scholars of ancient Rome were
actually Greek.

Romulus and Remus Founders of Ancient Rome

Pliny the Elder

Pliny the Elder

Pliny the Elder (AD23- 79) was
an exception. He was a respected
military commander, scholar and author. His treatise Naturalis Historia was a huge encyclopedic work encompassing many
subjects. He wrote extensively of
botany and the many uses of plants including herbs. Seven of his thirty seven volumes in Naturalis Historia, were devoted to the
discussion of botany, agriculture, horticulture and the medicinal use of
plants. It is one of his few works to
survive intact, it along with writings of several Greek scholars were used well
into the 15th century.

Pedanius Dioscorides

De Materia Medica

Pedanius Dioscorides

Pedanius Dioscorides (AD. 40-90) was born in the first century in southeastern Asia
Minor. He traveled extensively not only in Greece but throughout the entire Roman
Empire. He spent his life recording medicinal substances and recording their
properties. Between AD 50-70 he wrote
his famous treatise, De materia medica. This book became the most extensive record of
the preparation, properties, pharmacological properties and testing of
medicinal compounds, most of them plants.
These five books became central to the pharmacology of medicine for the
next 16 centuries.

Unlike most works written by the ancient Greeks and Romans,
his works were never out of circulation.
When Rome fell, the civilized worlds of the Arabians and Indian kept
these books in publication. Often with
notes and additions of their own discoveries.
The De materia Medica contains the records of over 600plants.

Galen

The Roman Coliseum

Galen

The next Greek scholar, Galen (AD 129-200) is often considered the greatest physician of all
times. Galen was born in Asia Minor. He
was a Greek physician that worked extensively in the amphitheatres treating
gladiators. He was so successful in
treating wounded gladiators; he was called to Rome to work his magic in the Coliseum.
He eventually became the physician to
Marcus Aurelius, the emperor of Rome.

Galen was a man of many hats. He was not only a renowned physician but a
philosopher, pharmacist and leading scientist of the day. He wrote over 500 treatises over his
lifetime. He wrote extensively about
plants and their place in medical treatments.

Galen’s writings help develop the beliefs that dominated
medicine for the next 15 century. His
influence is still seen in medicine today.
The word “galenic” is used to describe drugs and medicines made from
vegetable and animal ingredients using prescribed formulas.

The Herbs in the Gardens of Ancient Rome

The ancient Romans loved herbs and spices. They used
them in huge amounts in their everyday lives. They herbs used in wine making,
during and after baths, and as medicine. As the Roman legions spread out
through Europe, they took to herbs they loved with them. The herbs of the
Mediterranean were introduced to the Gauls, Vandals and Huns. They even made
their way as far as England were borage is still a favorite to add to wines and
deserts.

Because Romans were so in love with herbs and spices, their
homes almost always had herb gardens in back.
These gardens produced the herbs the home owners needed to season their
food, scent the air and treat the illnesses of the household. Some of their favorite herbs are still some
of ours today.

Basil

sage

Fennel

Borage

Opium Poppy

Calendula

Mint

Growing in the Gardens of Ancient Rome

These are some of the plants that
grew in the gardens of ancient Rome.

Almonds. Aniseed or Anise

Artichoke Barley

Basil Borage

Brambles or blackberries

Cabbage Oak

Oregano Parsley

Pomegranate Poppy

Rosemary Sage

Violets Winter savory

The Silk Road was the Link Between East and West

Medicinal Herbs Moved from East to West and North to South

Ancient cultures were constantly exchanging not only goods from the far corners of the known world but philosophies, cultures and medicine. This flow of information flowed from east to west and back again with the Arab traders along the Silk Road. The Roman legions then took all of this with them as they marched out of Rome. They took the herbs and spices that they loved into Europe along the Amber Road.

The Amber Road Goods Traveling North and South

Watch for the next two instalments, Herbal Medicine from the Middle Ages to Colonial America and Arab Traders, the Link between East and West.

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Comments

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sending

Tony McGregor

7 years agofrom South Africa

I found this very fascinating! The different ways in which disease has been viewed and treated really makes for interesting reading. Thanks for putting this all together.

Love and peace

Tony

adamsky

8 years ago

as a Biology enthusiast, I love to research all the different medicinal plants and its uses or functions for future purposes.. great pictures and presentations...

Sammie

8 years ago

Well researched hub. Tons of good info!

ncmonroe1981

8 years agofrom West Virginia

reddog: Wow! What a beautiful hub! I love all the wonderful pictures, and your layout is great.

Also, it's great to have a succinct, informative timeline about the use of herbs. It's so important to remember - and spread the word about - the fact that the earth gives us so much, especially in this age of managed care, pharmaceutical empires, synthesized medication, and rampant side effects. I'm looking forward to seeing the next installment.

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